DIY Vertical Windmill

Windmills in Holland were often built to pump water and facilitate land drainage.

The first known windmill design came from Persia and was created between AD 500 and 900. These early wind energy capturing devices were used primarily to grind grain and pump water. Today, wind energy is a multi-billion dollar industry. Wind farms around the world generate electricity for an ever-increasing number of consumers. Personal windmills are also common, as property owners capture and utilize the power of the wind. A vertical windmill, unlike a traditional horizontal windmill, can capture the wind from any direction.

Things You'll Need

• Metal pole
• Blower fan
• Alternator
• Batteries
• Rectifier
• Welder
• Sheet metal
• Metal rod
• Bolts

Instructions

1. Select the site for your windmill. Unlike a horizontal-mounted windmill, a vertical windmill typically has a smaller footprint; however, choosing the site for your windmill is critical to its efficiency. Select a site that offers maximum windflow. This is often higher than any surrounding buildings or trees, which may obstruct the wind. Be sure to obtain any needed permits for installing your windmill.

2. Purchase or recycle your windmill blades. One powerful windmill often discarded as trash is a blower fan, also known as a squirrel cage. These bladed tubes are found in air conditioning units and are ideal for DIY vertical windmills. You may be able to pick one up for free, or at least very nearly free, at a junk yard. Alternatively, contact a local air conditioning repair company to see if they have one that would normally be on its way to the trash.

3. Connect the blades to the alternator. Create a small base to attach to a metal shaft as a connection to the alternator. Weld these pieces into place. Be sure to check your welds, as the fan blower will spin at a high rpm and will be destroyed if a weld fails.

4. Create the windmill tower and install the windmill. Cut the metal pipe to length, per your planned elevation for your windmill. From the sheet metal, create a connection to bolt the alternator to the pole and weld the base into place. Drill holes into the sheet metal base and bolt the alternator and windmill blades to the pole tower assembly, running wiring down the pole and out the base. Connect wiring to the rectifier to convert the power from alternating current to direct current power. Connect the rectifier to your bank of batteries.

Tips & Warnings

• There are numerous styles of vertical windmill blades, from more traditional airfoil-shaped, to tubular, to helix-shaped blades. Some could be carved from wood or fashioned from PVC pipe, in lieu of using a squirrel cage.

• In addition to local building permits, check with your homeowner's association regarding covenants that may regulate the installation of a windmill on your property, before building.

• Be sure to wear protective clothing and eyewear when welding.

• Check local building codes regarding final connection of battery bank to your building, as this connection may be required to be made by a licensed electrician.

References

• Illustrated History of Wind Power Development: Part 1 - Early History Through 1875
• Popular Mechanics: Vertical WindmillsPurchase
• Popsci.com: Going with the Wind

Resources

• Windustry: Home